Washing machine



Oct. 24, 1950 w. H. POWERS 2,526,969

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1945 Y 4 Sheets-Sheet l v WARREN h.POWERS @zawaw W. H. POWERS WASHING MACHINE Oct. 24, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Filed July 27, 1945 m W m WAFIVE/V f/l POWER zU/m'uey Oct. 24, 1950 wPOWERS 2,526,969

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1945 4 Sheets-Shet '5 QM; @za/bww x! 1mrneys I uvento r Oct. 24, 1950 w. H. POWERS 2,526,969

WASHING MACHINE Filed July 27, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet Patented Oct. 24,1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,526,969 "WASHING MACHINEWarren-H.'Powers, Coronado, Calif.

' Application July 27, 1945, Serial No.'607,310

4'claims.

This present invention relates to'washi'ng machines and its "main objectis the provision of drier'means in a washing machine, operable Withoutthe operator putting her or his hands in the cleansing liquid.

Another object ofthe invention'is to provide a'washingmachine'whi'ch'lessens the number of times the clothes have 'to'behandled'by hand and shortens the time necessary to do the wash-Another'objec't of the invention is the provision of an apparatusincluding a single'source of power'that may drive the washing means ordrying means.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in thenovelty of construction, combination and arrangement of partsspecifically described in the followingde'scription and claimed intheappended claims.

In the drawings accompanying "and forming a part of this specificationand illustrating the preferred embodiment ofmy invention:

Figure '1 is aside elevation of the preferred embodiment of myinvention; 7 I

Figure 2 is a horizontal section on line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical, diametral section;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section on line 4-'-'4 of Figure 3; h I

Figure 5 'is an enlarged horizontal section on line 5 50f Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a partly broken away perspective view of the agitator, theclutch and the mechanism for alternately rotating the shaft in oppositedirections;

Figure 7 is an enlarged diametral detail section on line !'--'l ofFigure 4;

Figure 8 is a horizontal, transverse detail section online 8-8 of Figure7';

Figure 9 is a vertical di'a'metral detail section on line 9--9'ofFigu'refi;

Figure 10 is an enlarged d-iametral detail sec* tion through the clutchsleeve-and the shaft on which it slides;

Figure 1 1 is a transverse detail section on line ||l [of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the central portion of the agitator.

In the drawings in which like characters of reference designate like orsimilar parts, numeralZ denotes each of four casters the rollers ofwhich are made of rubber and which have locking devices-like those usedon hospital cots. Each caster is mountedin a conventional manner on thelower endof one of four channel legs 3 which are spaced from one anotherand converge upwardly. The concave sides of the cha n nel bars used aslegs face inwardly. The flanges of the'channelsare notched adjacenttheir lower ends to receive the marginal circumferential portion of a'table 4. Another table or platform 5 is supported by the legs above thefirst '"named table in a similar-manner.

The top ends of the legs are secured to' ;the lower side of the bottom 6of aliquid holding casing 7 the top of which; is closedbya remove ablecover 8 provided with a centrally located bearing?) onitslowerside. H

In the center of the lower table 4 isan aperture which serves as ajournal for the reduced lower end portion of a vertically disposed shaftIll. The reduced shaft portion-is also journaled in a ring or collar I lwhich bears with its upper flat side against the shoulder'formed by there-' duced portion with the thicker shaft-part. l The ring is providedwith a pair of diametrally opposite trunnions I2 which are eachjournaled'in registering apertures formed in the parallel end portionsof a pair of arms l3. Thejlatter'converge outwardlyor away fromthe shaftand form the inner end of a foot lever M which is pivoted in thebifurcated upper end of a fulcrum link I5. A pair of short spaced posts[6 arises from the table 4 and are pivotally connected at their upperends to the lower end of the link. The

part of the lever l4 extending outwardlyof the fulcrum structure carriesat its extreme enda pedal plate H with serrations in its uppersur facefor the foot of the operator who may hit the shaft by placing some ofhis weight upon: the pedal.

The shaft extends through a hole in the upper table 5 and a collarl8-atta'ched to the tops'urface thereof, and flanged'at the lowere'nd.The shaft. also extends loosely through one of the rounded 01f cornersof a substantially triangular support ing plate l9 which restsoscillatably upon a the upper end of the collar. The shaft has a tudinalgroove 20 and extends through thecentral hole of a gear ZZTWhich isoscillatably supported by the plate l9. The gear is in mesh with a rack23 slidablv disposed above the plate and engagin with its smoothbackside a pair of rollers 24 joul' naled with their lower nds in theplate andat their upper ends in a plate 25 which overlies the rack andforms part of the structure described for guiding the rack and securingits mesh engagement with the gear. The outer endpf the rack is p bted'by bolt 26 t6 the outer end of a horizontal arm 21 the inner end ofwhich is fixed to the lower end of a pulley shaft 28.

The latter is journaled in a bearing 29 which is fixed by a set screw 30or otherwise to an angle 3| attached to the leg structure. The upper endportion of the pulley shaft is rotatably supported in a journal 32attached to the lower side of the bottom 6 and carries a fixed pulley 33with a thickened periphery for a V-groove 34.

In the V-groove is a corresponding belt 35 which also engages in thenotch of a hub 36 integral with or secured to and depending from acentral pulley 31. The hub and pulley structure is journaled upon theshaft in and has upon its lower end downwardly extending clutch fingers38 which are inwardly spaced from the cylindrical hub surface andthereby form a shoulder 39. The same rests in a rotatable manner uponthe upper marginal surface surrounding an opening formed in the upperhorizontal leg 40 of a bracket H which has a lower horizontal leg 42extending in the opposite direction and attached to the top surface oftable 5.

Above the gear 22 which has on its upper end clutch fingers 43 and belowthe fingers 38 is a clutch sleeve 45 surrounding the shaft and splinedthereon for sliding movement without rotation by a key 44. The same isseated in a recess formed in the hole of the sleeve and is slidablydisposed in the slot of the shaft. through a radial hole in the sleeveand threaded with its inner end into the key. The sleeve is normally inlowered position in which its lower fingers 41 are in mesh with fingers43 of the gear 22, but will rise with the shaft after the latter hasbeen lifted to such an extent that the lower end of the sleeve abuts theend of the slot. This movement of shaft and sleeve will cause the upperfingers 48 of the latter to engage with the fingers 38 so that the shaftand sleeve partake of the unidirectional rotation of the hub and pulleystructure 36, 31.

In the groove of the pulley 31 engages a belt 49 also engaging thegroove of a pulley 50 of an electric motor 5! the frame of which isattached to or integral with a block 52 fixed to one of the legs.

The shaft extends upward through the circular central hole of an annularplate 53 afiixed to the underside of the bottom of the casing and a holein registry with the first hole in the bottom. A

sleeve 54 of an inner diameter equal to that of the last mentioned holeand in registry therewith is integral with or attached at the lower endto the inner and top side of the bottom and surrounds the shaft. Asleeve 55 of a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter of the lastmentioned sleeve surrounds the same in concentric and rotatable relationand is attached at its lower end to the inner and top side of a bottom56 forming part of a drier 5'! which also includes a cylindricalportion. The sleeve 55 is surrounded by a sleeve 58 which forms thecentral part of a washer also including a bottom centrally attached tothe last mentioned sleeve 58 and partitions 60 arising therefrom.

In order to successively engage the washer or oscillating motion and thedrier for unidirectional motion the shaft [0 has an upper end shaped forthat purpose and cooperates with the fiat top ends of sleeves 55, 58 ina manner now to be described. The extreme top end portion 6| of theshaft is frusto-conical and fits into the bearing 9 described andattached to the center of the cover. Below the frusto-conical portion isa part 62 which is flattened on opposite sides and fits into A bolt 46is inserted a complementary opening 63 in the flat top end of the washersleeve 58 when the shaft I0 is in its lower position and the lowerfingers of the clutch sleeve mesh with the fingers of the gear engagedby the rack. Below the flattened portion 62 is a cylindrical reducedportion 64 which revolves in the opening 63 of the washer sleeve whenthe frusto-conical portion is in its bearing. Below the reducedcylindrical portion is a, second larger portion 65 having flat sidesadapted for engagement in a complementary opening 66 formed in the fiattop end of drier sleeve 55.

In order to operate the machine described, the casing is filled with thenecessary cleansing liquid and the soiled fabric to be washed immersedtherein The shaft is in lowered position in which its reduced lower endrotates in the 'central opening of table 4. In this position of theshaft the lower fingers of the clutch sleeve are interlaced with thefingers of the gear 22 and the upper flattened shaft portion 62 is inthe complementary end opening of the outer or washer sleeve 58 and thereduced cylindrical shaft portion 64 is in the end opening of the inneror drier sleeve 55. The closing of the switch of the motor will rotatethe hub and pulley structure and the other pulley and cause the rack tooscillate the gear and shaft locked thereto. The washer is therebyoscillated and washes the fabric.

In order to operate the drier the shaft is lifted by the lever, Thisresults in engagement between the clutch sleeve and hub 35 and inunidirectional rotation of the shaft locked to the clutch sleeve. Duringthis operation the lower flattened shaft portion is in the end openingof the drier sleeve 55 so that the drier is rotated. The upper reducedcylindrical portion 64 of the shaft rotates now in the opening of thewasher sleeve 58 without taking the same along. The frusto-conical partis in the bearing 9 and the fabric, washer and drier are out of thecleansing liquid.

I have specifically described the preferred embodiment of my inventionin all of its details in order to impart a full, clear and exactunderstanding of the inventive idea. I do not desire, however, to beunderstood as confining myself to the precise construction and relativearrangement of parts as disclosed, my invention being defined by myappended claims within the scope of which changes in structure and inarrangement may be made without departure from my invention.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a washing machine, a casing provided with a support, a clothesreceptacle rotatably mounted in the casing, an agitator rotatablymounted in the clothes receptacle, a shaft slidably and rotatablymounted in the support and casing and having portions constructed andarranged for alternatively drivingly engaging and disengaging theclothes receptacle and agitator upon vertical displacement of the shaftrelatively to said parts, driven means rotatably mounted on the shaftand beneath the casing and including a clutch element, a pinionrotatably mounted on said shaft and provided with a clutch element, areciprocably mounted rack bar in engagement with said pinion, a crankfor actuating said rack bar, a driving connection between the crank andsaid driven means, a clutch keyed to said shaft and disposed between theclutch elements of the driven means and pinion and having portionsdisposed for movement into engagement with said l 1 elements forselectively revolving or oscil- 5 lating said shaft, and manuallyactuated means for vertically displacing the shaft.

2. A washing machine as in claim 1, said driven means comprising a beltpulley provided with a depending hub having clutch fingers at its lowerend, and a bearing member including a supporting bracket mounted on aportion of said support for rotatably receiving the hub of the pulleyand thereby rotatably supporting said driven means on the shaft.

3. A washing machine as in claim 1, the driving connection of said crankincluding a shaft, bearing means for journaling said shaft substantiallyparallel to the first mentioned shaft, said crank being keyed to one endof said last mentioned shaft, and means connecting said driven means tothe last mentioned shaft for revolving the last mentioned shaft inunison with the driven means.

4. A washing machine as in claim 1, said driven means and drivingconnection of the crank each 20 including belt pulleys, and a beltconnecting said belt pulleys for revolving the crank independently ofsaid shaft.

WARREN H. POWERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,437,514 Graydon Dec. 5, 19221,691,089 Steinhelfer Nov. 13, 1928 1,769,764 Barker July 1, 19301,843,347 Steelsmith Feb. 2, 1932 1,911,903 Kirby May 30, 1933 2,171,845Cureton Sept. 5, 1939 2,282,999 Engelke May 12, 1942 2,361,767 Hays Oct.31, 1944

